FDA warns online sellers of banned slimming pills

MANILA, Philippines—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has called the attention of a local buy-and-sell website in an effort to prevent unauthorized health products, including slimming and anti-obesity pills, from being advertised and sold online.

Florita Descallar-Moraleja, officer in charge of the FDA’s Health Scams Surveillance and Special Concerns Unit, identified the site as that of sulit.com.ph which has been advertising products containing sibutramine, a harmful ingredient found in some slimming pills.

Products containing sibutramine, Moraleja said, are no longer allowed in the Philippine market pursuant to FDA Memorandum Circular 2010-019 due to the increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

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She said the FDA would provide the website with a list of all allowed prescription drugs.

On the other hand, sibutramine has been shown in a well-designed study to increase the risk of serious heart events—including nonfatal heat attacks, strokes and death—by 16 percent in a group of patients given sibutramine compared with another group given a placebo, the FDA said.

It said the study showed there was only a small difference in weight loss between the placebo group and the sibutramine group.

The FDA advised consumers to use only FDA-approved slimming pills and anti-obesity drugs under the supervision of doctors.

It also ordered its inspectors to seize unregistered slimming products or those containing amphetamine, sibutramine and steroids from all outlets where they are found, sold or offered for sale.

The FDA also urged local government units and enforcement agencies to close down establishments that sell banned or unregistered health products.